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I feel like I am not getting involved in college as much as I should. I basically go to my classes and that's it. I don't really go out or anything... I'm majoring in dietetics and want to get involved in some things related to that or just overall fun activities, but I'm not sure what or how. Any suggestions?

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Ken’s Answer

The most helpful steps that you can take to become successful in your education and career journey is to get to know yourself better to assure that you are entering into a career area for which you are well suited based upon your personality traits and then meeting and talking to people who are doing what you think that you might want to do, so that you can see what they are doing, how they got there, and what advice and suggestions that they might have.


Getting to know yourself and how your personality traits relate to people involved in various career opportunities is very important in your decision making process. During my many years in Human Resources and College Recruiting, I ran across too many students who had skipped this very important step and ended up in a job situation which for which they were not well suited. Selecting a career area is like buying a pair of shoes. First you have to be properly fitted for the correct size, and then you need to try on and walk in the various shoe options to determine which is fits the best and is most comfortable for you to wear. Following are some important steps which I developed during my career which have been helpful to many .

Ken recommends the following next steps:

The first step is to take an interest and aptitude test and have it interpreted by your school counselor to see if you share the personality traits necessary to enter the field. You might want to do this again upon entry into college, as the interpretation might differ slightly due to the course offering of the school. However, do not wait until entering college, as the information from the test will help to determine the courses that you take in high school. Too many students, due to poor planning, end up paying for courses in college which they could have taken for free in high school.
Next, when you have the results of the testing, talk to the person at your high school and college who tracks and works with graduates to arrange to talk to, visit, and possibly shadow people doing what you think that you might want to do, so that you can get know what they are doing and how they got there. Here are some tips: ## http://www.wikihow.com/Network ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/nonawkward-ways-to-start-and-end-networking-conversations ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-questions-to-ask-your-network-besides-can-you-get-me-a-job?ref=carousel-slide-1 ##
Locate and attend meetings of professional associations to which people who are doing what you think that you want to do belong, so that you can get their advice. These associations may offer or know of intern, coop, shadowing, and scholarship opportunities. These associations are the means whereby the professionals keep abreast of their career area following college and advance in their career. You can locate them by asking your school academic advisor, favorite teachers, and the reference librarian at your local library. Here are some tips: ## https://www.careeronestop.org/BusinessCenter/Toolkit/find-professional-associations.aspx?&frd=true ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/9-tips-for-navigating-your-first-networking-event ##
It is very important to express your appreciation to those who help you along the way to be able to continue to receive helpful information and to create important networking contacts along the way. Here are some good tips: ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-informational-interview-thank-you-note-smart-people-know-to-send?ref=recently-published-2 ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/3-tips-for-writing-a-thank-you-note-thatll-make-you-look-like-the-best-candidate-alive?bsft_eid=7e230cba-a92f-4ec7-8ca3-2f50c8fc9c3c&bsft_pid=d08b95c2-bc8f-4eae-8618-d0826841a284&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily_20171020&utm_source=blueshift&utm_content=daily_20171020&bsft_clkid=edfe52ae-9e40-4d90-8e6a-e0bb76116570&bsft_uid=54658fa1-0090-41fd-b88c-20a86c513a6c&bsft_mid=214115cb-cca2-4aec-aa86-92a31d371185&bsft_pp=2 ##
Here are some good tips on balancing the use of time in college, so that you can participate in appropriate activities and still be able to concentrate on getting the best grades possible: ## https://www.unigo.com/in-college/college-experience/creating-a-workschool-balance-a-college-student-perspective http://www.mycollegesuccessstory.com/academic-success-tools/college-life-balance.html http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/000241/
Thank you comment icon During my daughter's senior year in high school, the highlight of the year was an internship program. A girl in her class wanted to become a doctor . So, she talked to the head of the local EMS unit and made arrangements with the school to create her own internship. Of all of the students about which I heard, she was the one who benefited the most by her internships. You can create your own internship! Locate a company that fits the parameters of the type of experience and exposure that you are seeking and work with them and the appropriate people in your school to put it in motion. After all, if there is an internship program existing today, anywhere, it had to be created by someone. Ken Simmons
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Richard’s Answer

Try joining intramural sports. That's a good way to socialize with other people without the constant pressure to keep the conversation going.
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Tristan’s Answer

I am late to the party, but I hope you're able to find other things on top of the usual college life! I felt my extra-curricular activities while I'm completing my Computer Science degree enabled me to have a more holistic view of Technology. How was your experience so far?
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Kim’s Answer

Anna,

Sometimes you have to just do it! Find some campus clubs or organizations that interest you. Or, ask a professor for recommendations. It could be a Pre-Med club, a political club, religious club, intramural sports team, Toastmasters/Toastmistress (public speaking club), etc. While it is always nice to have a friend to join with, don't hesitate to go it alone!


There will likely be occasions in life where you have to attend an event where you don't know anybody whatsoever. You need to learn to be comfortable in such situations. This is a good start!

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Courtney’s Answer

Join a campus club for fun activities and visit some dietitians in your area and see if they would let you do volunteer work for them to gain experience in your field of interest. Or find an organization like this one to volunteer at: https://www.wcfrspokane.org/volunteer-openings/

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